Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1836-1922 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities external link and the Library of Congress. Learn more

Download & Play

Questions

Newspaper Page Text

5555
WU444W
,
- THE WELCOME GUEST
By Gertrude Mary Sheridan.
'(Copyright by W. G. Chapman.)
i "Freezing weather in eight
States, snow on the Pacific slope,
and the equinoctial brewing in
4he West Indies," said William
Mercer, putting down the evening
Ipcper and trying to give a cheer
ful aspect to the announcement.
b
X
b
i
n
i
o
o
91
-i
a
.r
,3We're Not of the Lane Sort, Eh?
-f "Yes, the frost will soon be on
,Ithe pumpkin, neighbor," observed
rrgrim Henry Brown. "Hope
Tyou've looked out for your winter
nwoodpile."
n "The fuel question is the least
' of my troubles," answered Mer
Jtcer. "I must say the cellar is
opf etty well stocked, too. It's the
iffiayment.on the eighty acres that
troubles me, and you know it.
Let's get down to business. Old
Sharp is hard as tacks. He's given
me just thirty days to settle up,
or lose the farm. Will you loan
me the money I need?"
Brown squirmed in his chair.
Then he arose to his feet. There
was a covert, crafty gleam in his
little bead-like eyes.
"See here, Mercer," he said,
"you and I married sisters', and
naturally we have sort of mutual
interests. Relationship isn't
business, though, and when you
talk of my helping you out, I
must remember that I have a fam- -ily
of my own to care for. I don't
approve of some of your ways.
Last winter you pretty near car
ried a poor family in the village.
Then again you sent your daugh
ter to a seminary. You can't af
ford these things; you know."
"I can always afford to be char
itable and to try and give my
children an education," declared
Mercer, flushing up with sup
pressed indignation.
"Then pay the cost and don't
grumble," advised Brown crust
ily. "As to the charity end of it,
I don't believe in encouraging the
lazy nor helping the shiftless.
Why, just as I left home I heard
my wife give sharp walking
"papers to a whining oldfellow
looking for shelter and a supper.
There's no nonsense about us
practical, thrifty people, I can tell
you that. As to loaning you that
money well, I don't know."
"You must, or I .shall lose
everything," declared Mercer.
"H'm' observed Brown agaiiis
W&fiittttfittfiiA
--
ao-atc---v , .- x